boyvoyeur:I wonder why he did this. Was he sick? Depressed? And why do it in a cemetery? And why call 911 before you do it? Very weird.

He did it right. This way, there's is no land or property that is made "less valuable" or "spoiled" in any way, and people who have seen this type of thing before are almost certainly the first to find him. I respect him for doing it this way, it's very considerate of others.

exick:I'm not sure there's really another English word that you can use in its place. Do we have a generic word for the recipient of a self-inflicted bullet? "Committer of suicide" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

lockers:The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call apparently from the victim that "there would be a dead body and it would be his."

How is he a victim?

I'm not sure there's really another English word that you can use in its place. Do we have a generic word for the recipient of a self-inflicted bullet? "Committer of suicide" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

WhyteRaven74:So odds this gets any mention during the TV coverage of the next race on fox?

It'll get mentioned on the pre-race (Speed channel), for sure. But I doubt that the 'how' of his passing will be announced. Fox will have Darrell, or his brother Mikey, or his other brother Mikey give a quick eulogy and career tour. And Mike Joy will say something mid-race, 'cause that's how he is.

boyvoyeur:I wonder why he did this. Was he sick? Depressed? And why do it in a cemetery? And why call 911 before you do it? Very weird.

My guess is that he wanted to:

a)Go out on his own termsb)Reduce the impact on everyone around him on a certain level

Probably didn't understand that he would almost certainly end up at the coroner's office prior to being interred.Apparently made a point of not making a mess in his truck. Calling ahead reduced the chances of his discovery being traumatic/delayed.

Noticeably F.A.T.:nekom: But in all seriousness, it's always sad that someone decides that it's time to go.

I've always kinda figured that someone going out on their own terms is one of the better ways. Many times their reasons suck, but someone saying 'It's been real, I'm out' has never bothered me.

Depends on the situation, I suppose. Incurable terminal condition causing severe pain with no end in sight? Sure, under those circumstances I might even consider it myself. But if it's a problem that can be solved, just seems like a waste.

Legend has it he would race a special at Kaukauna on Sunday afternoon (a 1/2 mile paved track, and usually win) load up and head up the road about a half hour to Seymour (a 1/2 mile dirt track) change tires and win the feature Sunday night . RIP

Let's say the terminal illness theory is correct; he's already lived a very long and storied life. Do you think it's more noble to live out your final years in agony while putting your family through seeing you suffering?

Most people that age have lived a long and storied life. "Putting your family through" it can be very sad and therapeutic at the same time for family members and the person with the terminal illness. I have had experiences with both. I realize that not all experiences are the same, but I can say that my close family member that died from Cancer, in his last couple weeks, got to hold his only great grandchild soon after he was born. It meant a lot to him and it was the second time I saw him cry in my entire life.

I saw one of my best friends lose one of his parents to suicide under similar conditions. That friend could only ask "why"? They still had time to share and that was taken from him and his siblings by suicide.

Obviously everyone will have their feelings about suicide and the different circumstances where it is justified or not. For me, when you have a family that you love and loves you back, you are committed to their feelings and well being as much as you are to your own. I cannot speak to others' situations and circumstances that I have not experienced myself; my opinion and feelings about this have been shaped by my experiences. Hard to be objective, I guess.

Let's say the terminal illness theory is correct; he's already lived a very long and storied life. Do you think it's more noble to live out your final years in agony while putting your family through seeing you suffering?

Nabb1:Damn, that's sad. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but years ago, when ESPN was still enjoyable and not so self-absorbed, they would always, ALWAYS say where Dick Trickle finished in ever NASCAR race at the end of the bit about that day's race on SportsCenter. Some people (not Trickle, AFAIK) got a little rankled at the sophomoric humor, so they later wouldn't outright mention his name, but say, "You-know-who finished 43rd."

Noticeably F.A.T.:nekom: But if it's a problem that can be solved, just seems like a waste.

I suppose, but who the hell am I to decide that? If someone decides that they don't have anything else to offer (or simply doesn't want to offer anything more), that's up to them.

You're absolutely right, and it's a choice we all have at any given moment. It's not as if we are going to posthumously charge him with a crime. It's just, in my opinion, sad to see people take that option. But hey, there he went and many others have and will continue to. I just can't see ever doing that myself unless I were in a terminal pain situation with no hope. This whole "life" business is pretty freaky, I for one intend to see where this is going as long as the gods, goddesses, laws of nature, whatever you prefer allow me to do so.

Seriously though this sucks. I certainly wasn't expecting to hear that the guy with the best name in NASCAR offed himself. Im also kind of surprised at the respectfulness in this thread. Usually you'll get a chorus of "selfish" "coward" etc etc in a suicide thread.

Fireproof:NASCAR.com has nothing. One of my coworkers says they'll refuse to mention it, due to it being bad publicity.

I'm inclined to believe him. That's how NASCAR the organization has been lately.

This little blurb and a picture from a link on the front page is about it:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today. Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed." -- Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO

lockers:labman: lockers: The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call apparently from the victim that "there would be a dead body and it would be his."

How is he a victim?

Oh I don't know, maybe because his patents named him Dick Trickle.

If he filed his patents that way, who else is their to blame then himself?

Speaking of filing the wrong paperwork. There's a liquor store in Huntington Beach called "wine 7 spirits". We figured when they submitted the paperwork they forgot to push the shift key, got 7 instead of &. And said "Fark it, we'll take it".

exick:lockers: The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call apparently from the victim that "there would be a dead body and it would be his."

How is he a victim?

I'm not sure there's really another English word that you can use in its place. Do we have a generic word for the recipient of a self-inflicted bullet? "Committer of suicide" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

suicider? suicidee?

In all seriousness this kinda sucks, but it sounds like he was of sound mind. Go to a cemetary with a funeral home, let 911 know, then finish it up. He was 71, and he smoked like a chimney for about 60 of those years so I don't doubt that he got some bad news recently and wanted to go on his own terms.

exick:lockers: The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call apparently from the victim that "there would be a dead body and it would be his."

How is he a victim?

I'm not sure there's really another English word that you can use in its place. Do we have a generic word for the recipient of a self-inflicted bullet? "Committer of suicide" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Damn, that's sad. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but years ago, when ESPN was still enjoyable and not so self-absorbed, they would always, ALWAYS say where Dick Trickle finished in ever NASCAR race at the end of the bit about that day's race on SportsCenter. Some people (not Trickle, AFAIK) got a little rankled at the sophomoric humor, so they later wouldn't outright mention his name, but say, "You-know-who finished 43rd."